Suspension means for elevator gates



Feb. 4, 1930. H. w. sHoNNARD 1,745,772

SUSPENSION MEANS FOR ELEVATOR GATES Feb. 4, 1930. H. w. sHoNNARD 1,745,772

I SUSPENSION MEANS FOR ELEVATOR GATES Filed Aug. 20, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @13 QA @lum/nm, H4/MW d@ Patented Feb. 4, 1930 l 'I UNITED STATES HAROLD W. sHoNNAED, or MONTCLAIR, NEW-JERSEY, ASSIGNoEfro ELEVATOE.

SUPPLIES COMPANY, INC., A coRPonATroN -oP NEW JERSEY SUSPENSION MEANS Eon. ELEvATon GATES Application led August 20, 1,926.- LSerial No. 130,428..

My present invention has relation to a new and improved form of adjustable support for the well known type of elevator gate which is composed of vertical bars slidably joined by crossed pivoted slats, whereby the gate may be extended or collapsed atwill.

Gates of "this type are suspended by rollers attached to some of the yvertical bars, (usually every fourth bar) which rollers are adapted to roll along horizontal tracks over the gate. j

In order that there may be the proper uniform distribution of thefweight of the gate valongthe'full extent of the track, it is clearly necessary that the' vertical distances between the rollers and their respective points vof attachment to the gate should be everywhere equal.

vInasmuch as these parts are assembledy at the-elevator shaft and not at the factory, it

' hasbeen the practicehitherto to mount each pair of supporting rollers upon an upright rod, the lower end of which is screwed linto the proper vertical bar of the gate. Thus, by turning the bars, together with Atheir rollers, one way or the other, the reg spective heights of the rollers abovey the first hanging the gate, it is foundv that one y gate may be adjusted to produce the desired uniformity in position.l v

This construction has a number of disadvantages. In the first place, this adjustment must, of course, be made while the rollers are off ofthe'ir supporting tracks. Thus, if, after or more rollers arey not quite rightly adjusted, the whole gate mustr be removed from the tracks, and a new adjustment must be made, more or lessby guess.

Again, in the course of use, uneven wear will make it necessary to readjust the rollers to prevent saggingv and undue vibration, noise and resistance to movement. This makes it necessary yto remove the whole gate again, whichnot only lnvolves considerable labor,

Vbut' interruption of service aswell.

" Another disadvantage of the old lconstruction is found in the fact that, since the rollers must always be kept in line with the tracks,

- everyadjustment must be accomplished by Aone or more half turns of the upright roller supports. yFractions of a half turn are not permissible; Y f

.1 kMys present invention supplies an improved construction whereby all'of these disadvantages are avoided. f My improved :gate suspending means may receive :its final adjustment after the rollers are: placed on the track, and the adjustments necessary to compensate yfor wear maybe made while 'the rollers remain in place. Furthermore, my improved construction makes it possible to make a fineradjustment than hitherto possible, because'it involvesth'e turning of afscrew to any desired extent without moving the rollersthemselves. y r i 7 The invention further provides an adjustablefhanger capable of passing through a narrow slotpand` having a compact and mechanically lstrong construction. v

' My invention Iisillustrated ln a preferred form in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view in front ele-` vation of a collapsing gate to which my' improvement is applied, Figure 2 is a view in elevation of a single vertical gate bar showing myv hanger in place onrthe tracks, Figure 3 is a similar view takenat right angles to Figure2, and Figure 4 is a detail view partly in section of the turnbuckle. j

' As shownin Figure 1, the gate is composed of the vertical bars 10, united slidablyby,

crossedand p'ivoted slats 11. l Every fourth bar 10,iskprovided atv the top with a hanger 12,'sho'wn in detail in yFigures 2, 3 and 4.

InFigures 2 and 3 there is shown thefvertioalmember 13 constituting the movable upright edge of the gate. One of the vertical bars 10 of the gate is shown in Figure 3 fastened-to the member 13. The hanger comprises a pair of rollers 14, turning (preferably on ball rollers) on the ends of a bearing pintle 15 which passes through the enlarged topof a supporting pin 16. This pin 16 has a threaded bottom which fits the female threads in one end ofa turnbuckle 17. The opposite end of the turnbuckle is threaded to screw into the top of the vertical bar 10, being vpreferably provided with a lock nut 18, by

OFFCE/ r socket in the turnbuckle 17, instead of in the supporting pin 16, the latter may be made relatively narrow and the distance between the rollers 14 and the top of the bars of the gate to which the hanger is attached may be short, andscrew connections of good dimensions obtained.` v

The screw connection between the pin 16 and the turnbuckle is by thread and that of the turnbuckle with the bar 10 is left handed; Or the former may be left handed and the latter-right handed, if

preferred.

From this construction it is clear that, any turning, however small, of the turnbuckle (the rollers remaining stationary) will cause the gate member 10 to move up or down, according to the direction of the turn produced, thus producing the desired adjustment.

The tracks 19 preferably of fibre or Vthe like, are shown supported by the metal member 20, and the adjustment above described Y may be accomplished with the rollers 14 in their normal position on these tracks, as shown in Figure 2.

Various'changes may be made in my 4construction without departing from the scope of the invention, which is not limited to the details herein shown and described.

What I claim islAl hanger for elevator gates and ythelike comprising a supporting pin, a p'intle transversely of said pin having rollers thereon adapted to ride on a track, said supporting pin'having a threaded end-portion; and a turnbuckle, said turnbuckle having an enf larged portion adapted to be'engaged byV a turning implement, said enlarged portion having formed therein a threadedsocket adapted to engage said threaded end of said f supporting pin, Said turnbuckle alsohaving an exteriorly threaded portion adapted to fit a'complementary threaded part on the gate, said threads on said .turnbuckle being right and left-hand threads, the distance between said rollers and the top vof said gatev being adjustable by turning'or` said turnbuckle. f I Y In testimony whereof I have hereto aixed my signature on this 1926. Y f- AHAROLD W. SHONNARD/ 19th day of August, v 

